Bentley

R Type

Usual

Bentley R-Type Coupe by Abbott | 1 of 16 built | Original Abbott | 1954

Highlights:

- Only 16 built
- Original, rare “Abbott”
- Built by coachbuilder Abbott
- 20 years 1 owner

Original Bentley R-Type Coupe by Abbott
This is a classic with a very special story! This is not just any Bentley, this is an original R-Type Coupe by Abbott. This very limited classic was built by British coachbuilder Abbott and represented a special period in British motoring history in the 1950s. Not only did it look beautiful, it was also the fastest 4-seat coupé of its time. Abbott's goal was to supply large numbers of bodies for the new Bentley R-Type. However, the production of the Coupe by Abbott has never gone beyond 16 pieces, which makes this classic very special.

The classic that we offer for sale here comes from the private collection of an enthusiast who has owned the Bentley for no less than 20 years. It has been restored in the past and is both optically and technically in good condition. The Bentley R-Type Coupe by Abbott is powered by a 4566cc 6-cylinder engine with manual gearbox that provides a wonderful driving experience. It is finished in grey paint and has a grey interior with wooden dashboard.

Are you looking for a Bentley R-Type Coupe by Abbott? Leave your details via the contact form on this page or call us directly on +31 416 751 393.

For US customers:
Our cars can be picked up from our New Jersey warehouse (Linden, NJ) from Monday till Saturday.
Price for shipping a car from The Netherlands to our New Jersey warehouse is USD 1800. This price excludes 3% import duties and excludes shipping from NJ to your home address.
Our staff in New Jersey can quote you home delivery. Mileage is read from the odometer, cannot be proven unless stated otherwise.
Buy your classic car safe and secure from the biggest classic car dealer in Europe. We have shipped thousands of classic cars from/to buyers and sellers in the USA and worldwide. All cars are priced in USD. You can pay on our US bank account so no exchange rate issues for you.

For more than 80 pictures, a small video and availability, look at our website www.erclassics.com
Always 400 classic cars in our showroom in the Netherlands! 
ERclassics, Kleiweg 1, 5145 NA  WAALWIJK
Telephone: + 31 416751393. Please contact us by telephone before every viewing of a car.
WhatsApp: +31641269957.

Showroom open Monday till Saturday 09.00-17.00hrs. Every first Sunday of the month open from 12.00-16.00hrs. All cars we advertise are in our showroom in the Netherlands. 
No liability for price changes and errors.


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To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' London event, 4 November 2023. rn?550,000 - ?750,000 GBP rnrnDisplayed at the 1952 Paris SalonrnFeatures desirable lightweight seats and manual gearboxrnFinished in Oxford blue over a red leather interiorrnComplete known history with just seven owners from new; in current ownership since 2007rnComplemented by a fascinating history file with over 450 pages of invoices, correspondence, and photographs dating from 1952 to 2021rnAccompanied by its owner's handbook, spare wheel, jack, and toolkitrn rnrnPlease note if this vehicle is exported outside of the UK an export license will be required.  rnrnFor the sophisticated driver in the early 1950s, it was hard to imagine a better all-round luxury tourer than Bentley's R-Type Continental. Near silent at speed, smooth, elegant, with space for four plus luggage, and the ability to hit 120 mph, this was a car for all purposes and all seasons. rnrnH. J. Mulliner was responsible for crafting the bodywork on the vast majority of what Bentley originally called the 'Continental Sports Saloon'. It was clear from the outset that these cars were a hit with Bentley's clientele as order books quickly filled up, despite it being one of the most expensive cars in the world with an asking price of ?6,928. Only 207 R-Type Continentals would be built and though its production numbers were low, these cars are considered today to be among the finest driving and most desirable Bentleys of all.rnrnReaching completion on 4 April 1952, chassis BC6A was despatched to H. J. Mulliner to be bodied as a right-hand-drive R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon. Finished on 20 August that year, the elegant coachwork was coated in shade of green, with the interior trimmed with grey leather. A special car, BC6A was commissioned by the factory to be displayed at the 1952 Paris Salon de l'Automobile in October, and upon its road test on 25 August a French journalist inadvertently captured a photo of the car. Being a factory order, this example had the underside of the bonnet painted in cream, likely a decision taken to brighten up the engine bay for visitors to the Paris Motor Show.. Photographs on file depict this R-Type Continental on the Paris show stand on 1 October. rnrnFollowing the Paris Salon, chassis BC6A entered the stock of Franco-Britannic Automobiles and was sold new to its first owner, Henri Lafond, on 31 October. Six years later, on 1 October 1958, the car was acquired by the second owner, V. Millet; while in his care, Franco-Britannic Automobiles upgraded the engine with a new 4.9-litre block. It entered the possession of its final French custodian on 3 October 1962. During its time in France, BC6A was repainted in a shade of grey. rnrnTwo years later, while the car was sitting in the Franco-Britannic showroom, Colonel G.P. Burnham-proprietor of Burnham & Co. of South East London-sent a letter regarding the asking price and to request assistance importing it to the UK. Acquiring chassis BC6A for ?1,000, Burnham soon had his R-Type Continental brought back home; a meticulous man, every single piece of correspondence with Franco-Britannic Auto, and receipts from other workshops were kept and filed in date order. More than 200 pages of detailed information can be found on file regarding the history of chassis BC6A from 1964 until 1976, when Burnham sold the car. He even kept a mileage log charting fuel and oil use.. In December 1972, Burnham had the car repainted in the same colour grey as when he first acquired the car. He used this car almost daily according to his logs, and amassed more than 70,000 kilometres over his 12 years of ownership. rnrnBurnham parted ways with chassis BC6A when he sold the car to G. E. Turner on 1 July 1976. Little is known about his ownership period, though the buff logbook and V5 from 1982 show that he owned the car for six years before selling it to Victor Clark on 1 December 1983. Clark immediately embarked on a full and nut bolt restoration from 1985 to 1987. The majority of the work was carried out by Healey Bros Ltd. of Northamptonshire, with invoices exceeding ?10,000. During the restoration, BC6A was repainted from grey to Oxford Blue and was fitted with the red leather interior it has today. rnrnRetaining chassis BC6A for 35 years, Victor Clark was as meticulous as Colonel Burnham; invoices and previous MoTs date all the way back to 1983, and for almost every year there is paperwork showing servicing, maintenance, and repairs. This Bentley was used frequently and likely covered in excess of 50,000 kilometres during this period of ownership. When sold to the current owner on 19 April 2007, the history file boasted over 400 pages of invoices and receipts from previous owners.   rnrnUnder the care of the current owner, chassis BC6A has had nearly ?20,000 spent on maintenance and servicing, with the car subject to several thousand pounds worth of paintwork in 2022; invoices for all the work can be found on file. This Bentley is still finished in Oxford  Blue  with a red leather interior. In the boot lies the spare wheel and factory-supplied toolkit, alongside a jack.  rnrnToday, chassis BC6A presents as a wonderful example of Bentley's R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon. Built in right-hand-drive configuration and having starred as the Paris Show car, not to mention boasting arguably one of the most impressive history files one could ask for, BC6A is sure to attract the attention of discerning collectors looking for only the very best examples to add to their collections.To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM Sotheby's website.

Other

Asking | ?700,000 GBP rnrnFascinating early ownership history, retained by second owner Rene Herzog for over forty yearsrnSpecified new in RHD; fitted with a floor-mounted, four-speed manual gearbox and bucket seatsrnExceptionally well-preserved original interiorrnA lovely driver's R-Type Continentalrn rnrnFor the sophisticated driver in the early 1950s, it was hard to imagine a better all-round luxury car than Bentley's R-Type Continental. In tune with the company's reputation for building silent sports cars, driving an R-Type Continental was akin to riding on a magic carpet. Near silent at speed, smooth, elegant, with space for four plus luggage, and the ability to hit 120 mph, this was a car for all purposes and all seasons. Why would one need anything else when the R-Type Continental could do it all?rnrnH.J. Mulliner was responsible for crafting the bodywork on the vast majority of what Bentley originally called the 'Continental Sports Saloon'. It was clear from the outset that these cars were a hit with Bentley's clientele as their orderbooks quickly filled up, even with this being one of the most expensive cars in the world at an asking price of ?6,928. Only 207 R-Type Continentals would be built and despite its small production run, these cars are considered today to be amongst the finest driving and most desirable Bentleys of all.rnrnAs is the case for most automobiles that could claim being one of the most expensive cars for sale when new, first owners of these cars were never dull, and the first owner of chassis number BC17A is certainly no exception. This particular car was completed in December of 1952, and finished in Shell Grey with a Red leather interior, and specified in right-hand drive with a floor-mounted, four-speed manual gearbox and bucket seats. That first owner would be Rolf Habisreutinger of St. Gallen, Switzerland. He took delivery in February of 1953, having the car shipped on the Essex Ferry to Zeebrugge and then onwards to Switzerland.rnrnThe son of a textile entrepreneur, Rolf was world renowned for his passion for classical music and collecting string instruments until his passing in 1991. Today, his foundation, Stradivari-Stiftung Habisreutinger, exists as the largest private collection of Stradivarius instruments in Europe. Rolf's other passions included fine wine and stamp collecting, and while it would be easy to assume that he appreciated his R-Type Continental for its smooth and luxurious driving experience, Rolf was surely eager to explore its performance credentials. A regular entrant in international rallies, including the Rallye Automobile de Monte Carlo and Rallye International des Alpes, Rolf primarily competed in Jaguar XK120s but had raced his Bentley Mk VI on a handful of occasions. Remaining in the ownership of the Habisreutinger family until 1969, the car was then sold to its second owner in Switzerland, Rene Herzog. According to the R-Type Continental Registry, it had been driven some 290,000 km with the Habisreutingers.rnrnLike Habisreutinger, Herzog also had petrol flowing through his veins, and while he did not compete with the Bentley, he was a well-known driver in events not only in Switzerland but also across Europe. Competing in the European Touring Car Championships, where he raced a BMW-Alpina 1602-which he copiloted with Niki Lauda and Hans Stuck on separate occasions-he also raced Herbert Muller's Ferrari 512 M during 1971 and finished 4th at the 1990 24 Hours of Daytona in a Porsche 962 alongside Hans Stuck, Harald Grohs, and Hurley Haywood. Continuing to compete in historic racing and later transitioning to showing cars at concours events, Herzog retained the Bentley for over forty years and drove it in the Gran Premio Nuvolari in 2003; it was also shown at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in 2009.rnrnThe Bentley remained with Herzog until being repatriated to the UK when acquired by Peter Rae of Stockbridge in 2013. Acquired by the consignor in 2016, at his request the car was repainted black, yet its charmingly patinated, original interior was retained. Furthermore, the car was fitted with new lightweight bumpers, crafted from aluminium and chrome plated, for a sleeker look. This work, as well as some further mechanical work, was carried out by the Bentley and Rolls-Royce specialists at Frank Dale & Stepsons. It was last serviced by Frank Dale & Stepsons in March of 2020.rnrnOver seventy years since this car left the factory and it is easy to see why Bentley earned its reputation of building silent sports cars, a notion surely not lost on this car's first or second owners. Rolf Habisreutinger was perhaps the ideal customer for the marque and model. Although both he and Rene Herzog had access to purpose-built machinery to utilize at speed, the R-Type Continental surely would have been a welcome change of scenery when stepping off the racetrack. rnrnPerfectly capable in modern traffic, an R-Type Continental will happily waft along at modern motorway speeds, with unrivaled character and charisma compared to its modern successors. The embodiment of sporting elegance, it is both subtle and sophisticated yet very easy to drive. With its next owner, the car would surely revel in being driven as its manufacturers intended, crossing continents in leaps and bounds, showcasing Bentley at its very best.To view this car and others currently available, please visit the RM Sotheby's website.

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